Beer Braised Sausages with Onions (Party-Size Recipe)

Beer Braised Sausages with Onions (Party-Size Recipe)

Ingredients:

  • 3 lbs (1.5 kg) bratwurst or thick sausages (about 12–15 sausages)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
  • 3 large onions, thinly sliced
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional, for caramelizing onions)
  • 2 cups (480 ml) beer (lager or amber preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
  • Fresh thyme or rosemary (optional garnish)

Instructions:

1. Sear the Sausages:

  • Preheat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat.
  • Add a bit of oil and brown the sausages on all sides for 5–7 minutes.
  • You don’t need to cook them through — just get a nice golden color.
  • Transfer to a large baking dish or aluminum tray.

2. Cook the Onions:

  • In the same skillet, add more oil if needed and reduce heat to medium.
  • Sauté onions for about 10–15 minutes, stirring often until they’re soft and caramelized. Add brown sugar to enhance caramelization if desired.
  • Add garlic, salt, pepper, and cook for 1–2 more minutes.

3. Deglaze and Simmer:

  • Pour in the beer, scraping up browned bits from the pan.
  • Stir in Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard for extra flavor.
  • Simmer for 5 minutes to let it reduce slightly.

4. Bake Everything Together:

  • Pour the onion-beer mixture over the sausages in the tray.
  • Cover the tray with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes.
  • Remove foil and bake uncovered for another 15–20 minutes, or until sausages are fully cooked and nicely glazed on top.

Serving Suggestions:

  • Serve on hoagie rolls or brat buns with mustard and sauerkraut.
  • Pair with mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, or coleslaw.
  • Great with a cold glass of the same beer used for braising!

Benefits:

  • Feeds a crowd – easily serves 10–12 people.
  • Make-ahead friendly – refrigerates and reheats well.
  • Customizable – use different beers (IPA, stout, etc.) or flavored sausages (cheddar, jalapeño, etc.)
  • Flavor bomb – rich from the onions, tangy from mustard, and deep from beer.

Lovers of This Dish:

This dish is loved by:

  • Backyard BBQ fanatics
  • Beer enthusiasts
  • Busy parents needing meal prep 🍽️
  • Oktoberfest fans

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